On October 27, India’s ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi delivered a speech at the Tsinghua University:
… However, I am not here to talk about the past. I would prefer to address important issues that face us today. How can we build on our long traditions of peaceful contact and exchange to sustain a catalytic partnership that is relevant for the 21st century? This is today’s imperative. I firmly believe that we have much to contribute to one another. Our relationship has already assumed increasing importance to the stability and prosperity of the world at large.
People in India admire the tremendous progress China has made since it began its economic reforms in 1978. You have shown the world that it is possible in a relatively short time to substantially eradicate poverty, to inculcate dynamism and to unleash the forces of social and economic creativity. You have successfully transformed China into a dominant force in the global economy. [Full Text]